Danish health authorities held a press conference Tuesday afternoon regarding the return of students to schools after the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Minister for Children and Education Pernille Rosenkranz Theil indicated that students will return to their classrooms on January 5 as planned, despite many parents believing that this does not seem logical given the current record high infection rates.
Coronavirus testing in schools and daycare centers
The following recommendations were announced, aimed at reducing the spread of the virus in schools as students return after the holiday:
- Encouraging all students from first grade onwards and staff to get tested for the virus twice a week, including students and staff who have been vaccinated or have previously been infected with the virus.
- As of January 5, 2022, all daycare staff (such as those in nurseries) will also be required to undergo testing twice a week, including those who are vaccinated and those who have previously been infected.
- The recommendation to conduct infection testing in schools has been extended so that all students - vaccinated and unvaccinated - are tested as soon as possible and on the fourth and sixth days if they have been in contact with an infected person.
- Students can continue to go to school during the period of virus testing, but in the event of a positive test result, the student must self-isolate.
- Existing testing capacity has been expanded in schools, daycare centers, etc.:
- Free self-testing is available for all students and staff in the primary school, as well as staff in day care centers, for use in weekly screening tests.
- (Source: Ministry of Childhood and Education)
Number of children who received the coronavirus vaccine
According to Helen Probst, Deputy Director of the National Health Board, 218,000 children aged 12-15 have either been vaccinated or have booked an appointment for vaccination, representing 80% of the group invited for vaccination. For children aged 5-11, the number is 172,000, which is about 40% of the group invited for vaccination from that age group.
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